Press



June 1, 1943. R T LE 2,320,680

PRESS Filed April 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WIT/M15656.

A; WW6), w- 0S ATTORNEY5.

June 1, 1943.

R. TEMPLE PRESS Filed April 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MW

BY Q A ATTORNEYS.

. WIT/415x555. Ma w.

Patented June 1, 1943 UNITED STAT PAT N'i" "FFlCE PRESS Robert Temple, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application April 10, 1941, Serial No. 387,926

1'7 Claims.

This invention relates to explosively actuated apparatus and more particularly is concerned with portabl presses adapted, for example, to join relatively telescoping members together.

It is the general object of my invention to provide an improved portable apparatus operated by explosive means, which apparatus is relatively inexpensive to construct, maintain and operate, which is light in weight but of suitable strength to withstand severe usage, and which is readily operable by the ordinary workman to perform the desired operation in a, minimum amount of time.

A more particular object of my invention is the provision of improved explosively actuated apparatus of portable nature adapted to join tubes, pipes, rods, wires, cables, strands and like members together or to eyes, hooks, anchors or the like with or without the use of sleeves or couplings.

Another object of my invention is to provide a portable apparatus operable by the explosion of explosive means and wherein the full force of the exploded means is utilized du to the provision or a shearable strip which retards movement of the parts of the apparatus until a predetermined pressure has been reached, and wherein the strip is adapted quickly to repeated operations of the apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide a press of the type described having complemental dies adapted to surround the members to be pressed and wherein the compressing power of the detonated explosive charge is directed to drive all parts of the dies toward the members pressed and in a direction at an angle to the expanding force of the detonated explosive charge.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an explosively actuated press for joining relatively telescoped members together wherein the means for detonating the explosive charge can not be operated until adjusted to clamp the members in the proper joining position.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention are achieved by the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line IIII of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2; ,Fig. 4 is a horizontal crosssectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a top view of the apparatus; Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the piston and associated die forming a part of the assembly; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but taken at right angles thereto; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the clamping means included in the apparatus; and Fig. 10 is a top view of the means of Fig. 9.

Although my invention and certain of the features thereof are broadly applicable to operations and apparatus or" various kinds wherein the power provided is in the nature of explosive means, they are particularly adapted to join cables, wires, rods, tubes, pipes and like members together end to end or to eyes, hooks, etc., by first telescoping the ends of the members together with or without the use of an auxiliary sleeve, and hence my invention and its associated features have been so illustrated in the drawings and will be so described.

Beferring particularly to the drawings and the embodiment of my invention therein illustrated, the numeral l0 indicates generally a U-shaped frame formed with open sides and a closed end or anvil l2. Removably mounted on the anvil l2 are a plurality of work-engaging dies, generally two in number, and indicated at l4 and [6, which are formed with complemental arcuate faces I1 and is adapted to engage with the members to be joined which, in the form of the invention illustrated, include relatively telescoped tubes T and T. As shown in Fig. 2, the arcuate surfaces I1 and Id of the dies may include upstanding, circumierentially extending ribs or corrugations adapted to form in the pressing operation similar configurations on the members T and T. The dies 14 and I6 are spaced apart a relatively short distance 20 and yieldable means 22 normally urge the dies apart and into engagement with the sides of the frame. The upper ends of the dies are provided with inwardly and upwardly inclined surfaces 24 and 25 for a purpose hereinafter described. Positioning screws or other locking means 21. are provided for removably holding the dies Hi and It in the desired position but. allowing them to have limited movement together against the action of the yieldable means 22.

Slidably mounted in the frame It for movement to and from the anvil I2 is means for pcsitioning and holding the members T and T on the dies l4 and I5. ihese means preferably comprise a cylinder 30, shown individually in Figs. 9 and 10, slidably mounted between the legs of the frame for limited movement towards and from the anvil 12. A rib 32 extends diametrically across the cylinder at its end adjacent the anvil l2 and is adapted to engage with the members T and T, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and thus clamps the members in place on the anvil. Lugs 34 formed on the sides of the cylinder 38 engage in the openings between the legs of the frame I and prevent relative rotary movement of the cylinder and the frame.

Slidably mounted within the cylinder 38 is a piston 36, shown individually in Figs. 7 and 8. The piston 36 is provided with a groove 38 slidably receiving the rib 32 of the cylinder 30 and is further provided with a die or tool, 40 which may be formed integral with the piston 36 or which may be removably secured thereto. The die, or tool, 48 has a semi-circular or arcuate surface 42 which may be formed with ribs similar to those provided on the surfaces I I and I8 of the dies I4 and I6. The lower ends of the die 48 are formed with upwardly and inwardly inclined sur faces 44 and 45 which in the operation of the piston engage with the surfaces 24 and 25, rcspectively, of the dies I4 and I5, as hereafter described in detail.

Positioned within the piston 36 for limited movement relative to the frame is a breech 48 having a bore 50 adapted to removably receive an explosive charge, such as the blank cartridge 52. The breech 48 is formed with a circular flange 54 which is provided with diametrically opposed vertical openings 56 adapted to receive, as best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, longitudinally extending lugs 58 formed on the piston 36. The" lugs 58 are formed with notches 60 which engage with a strip 62 of relatively thin, narrow shearable metal, ordinarily in the form of an endless ring, received by a suitable shouldered recess 64 in the frame I8 and carried, as seen in Fig. 3, on the flange 54 of the breech 48.

When the cartridge 52 is detonated, as hereinafter described, the shear strip 62 holds the piston 36 against movement until a sufficient pressure has been built up to shear opposed bites from the strip 62 inasmuch as the notches 68 of the piston lugs 58 are in engagement with the strip which is itself carried on the breech flange 54. The piston 36 is free to move once the bites have been sheared in the strip 62 by the notches 68 of the lugs 58. After the apparatus has been operated and the piston is returned to its original position, the strip 82 is rotated slightly to bring an unsheared portion thereof within the notches 68 of the lugs 58 on the piston so that the piston is again held against movement until a predetermined pressure has been reached. the strength of the strip 62 is such that substantially the maximum pressure of the explosive is approached before the strip is sheared which insures a powerful piston blow.

The numeral 18 indicates, as a whole, a breech block removably positioned behind the breech 48. In the embodiment of my invention illus trated the breech block mounting is accomplished by pivotally securing the breech block 18 upon a hinge pin 12 having its ends formed square as at 14 and received in a rectangular slot I6 formed in hinge lugs or bosses I8 preferably made integral with the frame I8. The side of the frame I 0 opposite the hinge lugs 18 is formed with a shoulder 80 and the end of the breech block is provided with an overhanging finger 82 adapted to engage behind the shoulder 80.

The breech block opening in the breech block 18 and formed with a bore carrying a firing pin 88 normally urged away from the breech by a compression spring 98. The firing pin 88 is held in position and to limited movement only by a locking pin 92 in the Ordinarily,

asaopeo plug 66 which extends through an opening 94 in the pin of somewhat greater height than the pin 92. The end of the firing pin 88 is exposed within a cup 96 formed on the outer end of the plug 86 so that the firing pin can be struck a blow by suitable means but is normally protected against undesired accidental movement. The end of the breech 48 adjacent the plug 86 is recessed as at 98 to receive the end of the plug 86. The breech block 78 is accordingly held in position when the plug 86 is screwed into the breech recess 98 and this also serves to properly center the firing pin 88 and the cartridge 52 carried by the breech. The end of the plug 86 is knurled or is provided with other means to facilitate turning it in the breech block I8 to properly align and clamp the parts, as hereafter described.

In the operation of the embodiment of my invention illustrated and above described, with the parts in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the firing pin 88 is struck a light sharp blow in any suitable way to thereby detonate the cartridge 52. The piston 36 is held against movement until the force of the exploded charge is suflicient to pull the notches 60 of the lugs 58 through the strip 62 which causes round bites or notches to be sheared therein. When the strip 62 is sheared substantially the full force of the explosive has been realized and the piston ton 36 engages with the periphery of the rela tively telescoped members T and T and likewise inclined surfaces 44 and 45 engage with the inclined surfaces 24 and 25 of the dies I4 and I5. The engagement between the inclined surfaces causes the dies I4 and I6 to move together and compress the yieldable means 22 positioned therebetween. The anvil I2 opposes the direct drive of the piston 38 and a compressing action of many thousands of pounds per square inch is provided by the complementary dies I 4, l6 and 48 on the members T and T. The exact compressive force is dependent upon the size and strength of the parts, the amount and character of the explosive charge employed, and the use to which the apparatus is put.

After the members have been secured together as described, the plug 86 is screwed out of the breech block I8 approximately one-eighth to onequarter of an inch to remove the end of the plug from the recess 98 and the breech block I8 is slid toward the shoulder on the frame I!) to bring the overhanging finger 82 on the breech block away from under the shoulder and to thereby permit the breech block to be swung, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, about the pin 12 to expose the breech 48. The detonated cartridge 52 is now removed in any desired manner, as by the provision of standard ejector mechanism. If the members T and T joined together are of considit is not possible to withdraw them from between the dies by a relative longitudinal movement of the members and the frame, then it is a relatively simple matter to remove the breech 48, the piston 36 and the cylinder 30 from the end of the frame, at which time the members T and T can likewise be freed from the apparatus.

Once the joined members have been freed, any other members to be compressed are placed on the dies I4 and I 6, and the cylinder 38 with the holding rib 32 is positioned over the members to hold them during the compressing operation. The piston 36 and breech 48 positioned within the cylinder 38 are returned to their initial position, and the shear strip 62 is turned to bring a new portion thereof under the notches 68 formed in the lugs 58 of the piston which again releasably secures the piston to the breech 48.

A new cartridge is now inserted in the bore 58 of the breech and the breech block is swung about the pin I2 and the overhanging finger 82 is positioned behind the shoulder 88 on the frame by movement of the squared end 14 of the pin 12 in the rectangular slot 16 formed in the hinge lugs 18 of the frame In. The plug 86 is now screwed down into the recess 98 at the end of the breech which first moves the breech flange 54 into contact with the cylinder 38, which in turn moves the rib 32 of the cylinder into relatively tight holding engagement with the members T and T.

This tightening movement of the plug 85 like Wise positions the breech block over the breech and brings the end of the firing pin 88 into sufiiciently close proximity with the end of the cartridge 52 so that the cartridge can be detonated. Thus it will be seen that when plug 85 is screwed into place in recess 98 it both presses cylinder 38 downwardly to clamp the members T and T against the anvil,'and also looks the breech block 10 in firing position. Plug 86 therefore acts as an adjustable element on the breech block which when tightened locks the breech and breech block in position and clamps the rib of cylinder 38 against the material carried on the anvil. It will be noted in this respect that the firing pin 88 is mounted for relatively limited movement and that it is impossible to detonate a cartridge positioned in the breech until the plug 85 has been tightened down firmly in the breech block and is fitting into the bottom of the recess 88 of the breech. The apparatus is now in the position shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and the pressing operation can be repeated.

From the foregoing description it will be recognized that the objects of my invention have been achieved by the provision of an improved portable apparatus operable by explosive means and adapted particularly for joining relatively telescoping members together and more broadly capable of metal-working operations of various kinds.

While in accordance with the Patent Statutes, one embodiment of my invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it should be appreciated that my invention is not limited thereto or thereby but is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for compressing a plurality of relatively telescoping members together comprising a frame, a piston slidably mounted on the frame, an anvil associated with the frame in alignment with the movement of the piston, a plurality of dies carried on the anvil and adapted to engage with portions of the periphery of a member, means yieldably holding the dies apart, a die carried by the piston and adapted to engage with a portion of a member, said die having oppositely inclined side portions engaging in the operation of the apparatus with similarly inclined side portions on the first-named dies to force the first-named dies together against the action of the yieldable means, a breech associated with the frame and piston and adapted to receive an explosive charge, a breech block removably positioned over the breech, means for detonating an explosive means carried by the breech, means for clamping the members to be compressed in the operating position, and means for holding the piston against movement until a predetermined pressure has been reached by the detonated explosive means, said last-named means including a strip of material having a portion thereof adapted to be sheared when the predetermined pressure has been reached and then moved along to present another portion for the next operation of the apparatus.

2. Apparatus for compressing a plurality of relatively telescoping members together comprising a frame, a piston slidably mounted on the frame, an anvil associated with the frame in alignment with the movement of the piston, a

plurality of dies carried on the anvil and adapted to engage with portions of the periphery of a member, means yieldably holding the dies apart, a die carried by the piston and adapted to engage with a portion of a member, said die having oppositely inclined side portions engaging in the operation of the apparatus with similarly inclined side portions on the first-named dies to force the first-named dies together against the action of the yieldable means, a breech associated with the frame and piston and adapted to receive an explosive charge, a breech block removably positioned over the breech, means for detonating an explosive means carried by the breech, means for clamping the members to be compressed in the operating position, and means for holding the piston against movement until a predetermined pressure has been reached by the detonated explosive means.

3. Apparatus for compressing a plurality of relatively telescoping members together comprising a frame, a piston slidably mounted on the frame, an anvil associated with the frame in alignment with the movement of the piston, a plurality of dies carried on the anvil and adapted to engage with portions of the periphery of a member, means yieldably holding the dies apart, a die carried by the piston and adapted to engage with a portion of a member, said die having oppositely inclined side portions engaging in the operation of the apparatus with similarly inclined side portions on the first-named dies to force the first-named dies together against the action of the yieldable means, a breech associated with the frame and piston and adapted to receive an explosive charge, a breech block removably positioned over the breech, means for detonating an explosive means carried by the breech, and means for clamping the members to be compressed in the operating position.

4. Apparatus for compressing a plurality of relatively telescoping members together comprising a frame, a piston slidably mounted on the frame, an anvil associated with the frame in alignment with the movement of the piston, a die carried on the anvil and adapted to engage With a portion of the periphery of a member, a die carried b the piston and adapted to engage with a portion of a member, said die having oppositely inclinedside portions engaging in the operation of the apparatus with similarly inclined side portions on the first-named die to hold the first-named die against expanding movement, a breech associated with the frame and piston and adapted to receive an explosive charge, a breech block removably positioned over the breech, means for detonating an explosive means carried by the breech, means for clamping the members to be compressed in the operating position, and

means for holding the piston against movement until a predetermined pressure has been reached by the detonated explosive means, said lastnamed means includin a strip of material having a portion thereof adapted to be sheared when the predetermined pressure has been reached and then moved along to present another portion for the next operation of the apparatus.

5. Apparatus for compressing a plurality of relatively telescoping members together comprising a frame, a piston slidably mounted on the frame, an anvil associated with the frame in alignment with the movement of the piston, a die carried on the anvil and adapted to engage with a portion of the periphery of a member, a die carried by the piston and adapted to engage with a portion of a member, a breech associated with the frame and piston and adapted to receive an explosive charge, a breech block removably positioned over the breech, means for detonating an explosive means carried by the breech, means for clamping the members to be compressed in the operating position, and means for holding the piston against movement until a predetermined pressure has been reached by the detonated explosive means, said last-named means including a strip of material having a portion thereof adapted to be sheared when the predetermined pressure has been reached and then moved along to present another portion for the next operation of the apparatus.

6. Apparatus for compressing a plurality of relatively telescoping members together comprising a frame, a piston slidably mounted on the frame, an anvil associated with the frame in.

alignment with the movement of the piston, a die carried on the anvil and adapted to engage with a portion of the periphery of a member, a die carried by the piston and adapted to engage with a portion of a member, a breech associated with the frame and piston and adapted to receive an explosive charge, a breech block removably positioned over the breech, means for detonating an explosive means carried by the breech, and means for holding the piston against movement until a predetermined pressure has been reached by the detonated explosive means, said lastnamecl means including a strip of material having a portion thereof adapted to be sheared when the predetermined pressure has been reached and then moved along to present another portion for the next operation of the apparatus.

7. Apparatus for performing work on a member comprising a frame, a piston slidably mounted on the frame, an anvil associated with the frame in alignment with the movement of the piston, a tool carried by the piston and adapted to engage with a portion of a member, a breech associated with the frame and piston and adapted to receive an explosive charge, a breech block removably positioned over the breech, means for detonating an explosive means carried by the breech, and means for holding the piston against movement until a predetermined pressure has been reached by the detonated explosive means, said lastnamed means including a strip of material having a portion thereof adapted to be sheared when the predetermined pressure has been reached and then moved along to present another portion for the next operation of the press.

8. In combination, a frame, a piston mounted for sliding movement in the frame, an anvil positioned in alignment with the movement of the piston, a tool carried by the piston and adapted to perform work on a member positioned on the anvil, a breech behind the piston and adapted to receive explosive means, a breech block removably positioned behind the breech, means for clamping the member on the anvil, and means for simultaneously operating the clamping means and locking the breech block in firing position.

9. In combination, a frame, a piston mounted for sliding movement in the frame, an anvil positioned in alignment with the movement of the piston, a tool carried by the piston and adapted to perform work on a member positioned on the anvil, a breech behind the piston and adapted to receive explosive means, a breech block removably positioned behind the breech, means for clamping the member on the anvil, means for locking the breech block in firing position, and means interconnecting the locking means and the clamping means for simultaneousl operating the clamping means when the locking means are operated.

10. An explosively actuated apparatus comprising a frame, an anvil on the frame, a cylinder slidably mounted for limited movement in the frame for movement toward the anvil, a diametrically extending rib on the end of the cylinder and extending into engagement with material carried on the anvil, a piston slidably carried in the cylinder, a tool on the end of the piston and spanning the rib on the cylinder, a breech slidably carried in the frame and adapted to receive an explosive charge, a breech block removably positioned behind the breech, an adjustable element on the breech block adapted when tightened to lock the breech and breech block in position and to clamp the rib of the cylinder against the material carried on the anvil, means for detonating an explosive charge carried by the breech, and means positioned between the breech and the piston for holding the piston against movement until substantially the maximum pressure has been built up by the explosion of the explosive charge.

11. An explosively actuated apparatus comprising a frame, an anvil on the frame, a cylinder slidably mounted for limited movement in the frame for movement toward the anvil, a diametrically extending rib on the end of the cylinder and extending into engagement with material carried on the anvil, a piston slidably carried in the cylinder, a tool on the end of the piston and spanning the rib on the cylinder, a breech slidably carried in the frame and adapted to receive an explosive charge, a breech block removably positioned behind the breech, an adjustable element on the breech block adapted when tightened to lock the breech and breech block in position and to clamp the rib of the cylinder against the material carried on the anvil, means for detonating an explosive charge carried by the breech, and means for holding the piston against movement until substantially the maximum pressure has been built up by the explosion of the explosive charge.

12. An explosively actuated apparatus comprising a frame, an anvil on the frame, a cylinder sildably mounted for limited movement in the frame for movement toward the anvil, a diametrically extending rib on the end of the cylinder and extending into engagement with material carried on the anvil, a piston slidably carried in the cylinder, a tool on the end of the piston and spanning the rib on the cylinder, a

asa eso breech slidably carried in the frame and adapted to receive an explosive charge, a breech block removably positioned behind the breech, an adjustable element on the breech block adapted when tightened to lock the breech and breech block in position and to clamp the rib of the cylinder against the material carried on the anvil, and means for detonating an explosive charge carried by the breech.

13. An explosively actuated apparatus comprising a frame, an anvil on the frame, a cylinder slidably mounted for limited movement in the frame for movement toward the anvil, means on the end of the cylinder and extending into engagement with material carried on the anvil, a piston slidably carried in the cylinder, a tool on the end of the piston, a breech slidably carried in the frame and adapted to receive an explosive charge, a breech block removably positioned behind the breech, an adjustable element on the breech block adapted when tightened to lock the breech and breech block in position and to clamp the means of the cylinder against the material carried on the anvil, and means for detonating an explosive charge carried by the breech.

14. In a tool for performing work on metal the combination with a frame, a piston member associated with and movable relative to said frame, and explosively-actuated means for moving said piston, of a strip of material mounted in said frame and engaging a portion of said piston, said strip restraining movement of said piston until a predetermined pressure has been created by said explosive means and being then sheared to permit the piston to be moved by said pressure, and the strip being movably mounted whereby successive unsheared portions may be used in repeated operations of the tool.

15. In a tool for performing work on metal the combination with a frame, a piston member associated with and movable relative to said frame, and explosively-actuated means for moving said piston, of a metallic ring mounted rotatably in said frame and engaging a portion of said piston to restrain its movement, said ring being of such thickness and engaging such an area of said piston as to be sheared, to permit piston movement, only when a predetermined pressure has been created by said explosive means, and rotation of said ring presenting an unsheared portion for use in the next operation of the tool.

16. A too-l for performing work on metal comprising the combination of a frame, a piston movable in said frame and provided with a notched portion, breech means associated with said frame for receiving an explosive charge, and a metallic strip mounted in said frame and engaging said notched portion of the piston to restrain it against movement until sheared by a predetermined pressure built up in said breech by detonation of said charge, and said strip being movable to present successive unsheared portions in repeated use of the tool.

17. A tool for performing work on a metal comprising the combination of a frame, a hollow piston closed at its outer end movably associated with said frame and provided with a plurality of upstanding lugs having notched portions adjacent their extended ends, a breech member disposed in the bore of said piston and provided with openings through which said lugs extend, and a ring of sheet metal disposed rotatably above said breech With portions engaged by the notches of said lugs to restrain the piston against movement until the engaged portions of the ring are sheared under a predetermined pressure built up by detonation of an explosive charge in said breech, rotation of said ring presenting unsheared portions for use in the next operation of the tool.

ROBERT TEMPLE. 

